March 21, 2006
" A man ought to read just as inclination leads him, for what he reads as a task will do him little good." ~ Samuel Johnson ~
The observation of people can be a fascinating way to pass time. I have always enjoyed sitting at the mall (airport, or anywhere people gather) and just observing people. The following are some of my observations and for "convenience sake" I will put it in the form of a LIST:
1.) Most people have no idea of what clothing flatters their body type. (HINT: If you are of the female persuasion, vertically challenged, and over the age of 35, NO mini-skirts allowed).
2.) Hair is another ominous black hole for many people. The clue here is that if your hairdresser recommends it and you hate her hair, ignore her.
3.) From all appearances, people are sadly lacking in the knowledge of how to raise well-behaved kids. (Anyone who knows me very well will be proud of my restraint here). Hey, if your kid is a brat and you don't want to listen to him then feel free to assume that I am going to feel the same way.
4.) Crowd control, is anyone in charge? I absolutely despise it when large crowds of people stand in the middle of aisles, completely blocking traffic, leaving you no recourse but to barge through or go around. And while I am at it, my pet Costco peeve: people who block the aisles so that they can eat the free samples. This is not a buffet people, it is intended that you try a sample and then actually buy the product, not eat the sample and move on to the next grazing station. (END RANT).
5.) Self contol, does anyone have it anymore? I aboslutely hate it when people fight and argue in public, it is so embarrassing. Do they really think that everyone wants to hear about thier lack of checking account balance? On the other side of that same coin, neither do I want to see obnoxious PDAs.
. 6.) Please for the love of all that is sacred, don't subject the whole world to your cell phone conversation. Many times we are captive audiences and we don't want to hear the saga of your entire pitiful life. Here is an example of what I mean: When I was still working at the Merv, I once had a woman come to the cash register, on her cell phone, and words were flowing like Niagara Falls. She had a huge stack of items she was purchasing. So while I stood there and rang up her purchases she talked on her phone the entire time, she never once uttered a word to me. I had completely finished ringing, bagging, and processing her credit card before she got off the phone. When she got off she then proceeded to inform me that she hadn't wanted some of the stuff. It's so annoying when you don't know you are supposed to be using your crystal ball.
8.) Manners, don't leave home without them. Some people seem to think that when there are large lines no one will notice or care if they cut in front of them. Are they nuts?!? I figure it is the fastest road to an old-fashioned lynching.
If you aren't in the habit of observing people, may I recommend it as a fairly cost effective form of entertainment. But always remember that when you are in stores (and places like that) there is usually someone observing you and they can see everything, they could literally count the hairs in your nostrils if they wanted to.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Life in the past
June 9, 2007 - Saturday
"All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, what they lived, we dream."
~ T. K. Whipple, Study out the Land ~
One of the things you get to do when you get to be as old as I am is reminisce…the kids hate it but it's a fact of life.
Today my ruminations are of that far-off land of Grade School. Here are some things I remember:
The long paper with lines on the bottom and blank space above to draw your perspectives of the world. Remember? The line of blue at the top that was supposed to represent the sky; the strip of green at the bottom for grass; the cheerful looking sun that was usually in the top right corner, complete with artistic rays. In the writing section there was invariably a torn part where it had been erased one too many times.
The paste that came in the plastic jar that had an applicator-type thing attached to the lid, this was supposedly to keep your fingers out of the paste which would have defeated the entire purpose of the paste, which was to be eaten. I loved that stuff.
I was also inordinately fond of the fat pencils with equally fat erasers that came in a variety of pretty primary colors. I was sad when I had to start using those skinny yellow pencils, they were so ugly.
The tablets that were used after you graduated from the aforementioned long paper. I remember one time I had to use notebook paper because we were out of tablets at home and my mom wouldn't "go to town" for just one item. I was so embarrassed; I thought we were too poor to afford a tablet.
Those awesome desks that had the top that lifted up. I LOVED my desk and it was always painfully tidy or looked like Hurricane Gertrude had just passed through there.
The brand new eraser at the beginning of the year, it came in the beautiful designer color of Petal Pink…until you spent the whole year erasing all those awkward looking letters you were trying to learn; then it was more of a Grunge Gray.
Saddle shoes. For those of you too deprived to experience saddle shoes that were brand new at the beginning of the school year, there is no consolation I can offer you.
Recess: The entire point of attending Grade School, (other than eating lunch) Playing Squareball (or Four Square as some poor saps referred to it) Hopscotch, the Jungle Gym, all the different monkey bars. Parents didn't realize what a danger zone the "playground" could be.
"All America lies at the end of the wilderness road, and our past is not a dead past, but still lives in us. Our forefathers had civilization inside themselves, the wild outside. We live in the civilization they created, but within us the wilderness still lingers. What they dreamed, we live, what they lived, we dream."
~ T. K. Whipple, Study out the Land ~
One of the things you get to do when you get to be as old as I am is reminisce…the kids hate it but it's a fact of life.
Today my ruminations are of that far-off land of Grade School. Here are some things I remember:
The long paper with lines on the bottom and blank space above to draw your perspectives of the world. Remember? The line of blue at the top that was supposed to represent the sky; the strip of green at the bottom for grass; the cheerful looking sun that was usually in the top right corner, complete with artistic rays. In the writing section there was invariably a torn part where it had been erased one too many times.
The paste that came in the plastic jar that had an applicator-type thing attached to the lid, this was supposedly to keep your fingers out of the paste which would have defeated the entire purpose of the paste, which was to be eaten. I loved that stuff.
I was also inordinately fond of the fat pencils with equally fat erasers that came in a variety of pretty primary colors. I was sad when I had to start using those skinny yellow pencils, they were so ugly.
The tablets that were used after you graduated from the aforementioned long paper. I remember one time I had to use notebook paper because we were out of tablets at home and my mom wouldn't "go to town" for just one item. I was so embarrassed; I thought we were too poor to afford a tablet.
Those awesome desks that had the top that lifted up. I LOVED my desk and it was always painfully tidy or looked like Hurricane Gertrude had just passed through there.
The brand new eraser at the beginning of the year, it came in the beautiful designer color of Petal Pink…until you spent the whole year erasing all those awkward looking letters you were trying to learn; then it was more of a Grunge Gray.
Saddle shoes. For those of you too deprived to experience saddle shoes that were brand new at the beginning of the school year, there is no consolation I can offer you.
Recess: The entire point of attending Grade School, (other than eating lunch) Playing Squareball (or Four Square as some poor saps referred to it) Hopscotch, the Jungle Gym, all the different monkey bars. Parents didn't realize what a danger zone the "playground" could be.
Daisy
April 16, 2007 - Monday
Daisy-do. Dolly. Doll-face. Doll-doll.
These are a few of the nicknames we had for our much-loved family dog. None of them really embraces what kind of a dog she was or the unconditional love she offered us on a daily basis. She loved us and trusted us with her very last breath, which came last Friday.
Daisy was a pound puppy. Not the first one we looked at nor the second or third. She was a very thin black dog with white feet, white tip on her tail and a bit of white on her face and chest. By the time we took a closer look at Daisy we had almost given up on finding our dog that day. She was pretty much the only dog in the cacophony that was lying silently with big brown eyes pleading for us to take one last look. We did and it was love at first sight. We took Daisy home that day and she was instantly a part of our family.
There was nothing she wasn't willing to do with the girls, with the exception of bathing; she may have been part black lab but she was not a water dog. Daisy was dressed far more often than their dolls, she was a faithful partner in many outdoor adventures, she provided a listening ear for the angst of their early teen years, and she loved them with every breath she took. Daisy was better at playing checkers then they were but we suspect that was because when they weren't looking she cheated. She was more patient then they were and often smarter.
There was no adventure that Daisy wasn't willing and ready to participate in. She adored camping and endured being drug around on her leash by many an eager child at the SBCC campouts.
Daisy loved everyone she met and when Andy came into the family he was no exception, she always knew when he was coming by the sound of his car.
Patience probably should have been her middle name for she had that character quality in spades. She endured the addition of a little black toy poodle who she thought was a small rat when we brought him home. She also endured the addition of her two nephews Castor and Camber with lady-like dignity.
Daisy was a grand dog, the finest you could ask for and royalty in her own right. It is with fond memories and sad hearts that we say good-bye to our companion of thirteen years.
Daisy-do. Dolly. Doll-face. Doll-doll.
These are a few of the nicknames we had for our much-loved family dog. None of them really embraces what kind of a dog she was or the unconditional love she offered us on a daily basis. She loved us and trusted us with her very last breath, which came last Friday.
Daisy was a pound puppy. Not the first one we looked at nor the second or third. She was a very thin black dog with white feet, white tip on her tail and a bit of white on her face and chest. By the time we took a closer look at Daisy we had almost given up on finding our dog that day. She was pretty much the only dog in the cacophony that was lying silently with big brown eyes pleading for us to take one last look. We did and it was love at first sight. We took Daisy home that day and she was instantly a part of our family.
There was nothing she wasn't willing to do with the girls, with the exception of bathing; she may have been part black lab but she was not a water dog. Daisy was dressed far more often than their dolls, she was a faithful partner in many outdoor adventures, she provided a listening ear for the angst of their early teen years, and she loved them with every breath she took. Daisy was better at playing checkers then they were but we suspect that was because when they weren't looking she cheated. She was more patient then they were and often smarter.
There was no adventure that Daisy wasn't willing and ready to participate in. She adored camping and endured being drug around on her leash by many an eager child at the SBCC campouts.
Daisy loved everyone she met and when Andy came into the family he was no exception, she always knew when he was coming by the sound of his car.
Patience probably should have been her middle name for she had that character quality in spades. She endured the addition of a little black toy poodle who she thought was a small rat when we brought him home. She also endured the addition of her two nephews Castor and Camber with lady-like dignity.
Daisy was a grand dog, the finest you could ask for and royalty in her own right. It is with fond memories and sad hearts that we say good-bye to our companion of thirteen years.
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